[Estimation of height from leg lenght measured with tape measure]. / Estimación de la estatura a partir de la longitud de pierna medida con cinta métrica.

Equations to predict height from several body segments have been developed. However, those that use the knee height are limited by the need of an instrument with high cost (anthropometer). Thus, the aim of this study was to develop a prediction equation from the leg length by using a tape measure. Leg length and height was measured in 180 subjects, with ages 30-59 years that attended the Ambulatorio Docente Asistencial of the University Hospital of Caracas, from April to June of 2002. In order to determine the correlation degree of each measurement with height, the existent correlation between height and each one of the studied variables (leg length, sex, age) and between the variables to one each other was calculated by means of the Pearson's correlation coefficient. Linear regression analysis was done to estimate the height in each gender and the results were tested on an independent sample. The generated equations achieved a very good correlation with the real height and the standard error was calculated. Thus, in those subjects in whom assessment of the real height is not possible by conventional means, it is possible to use height prediction equations from simple techniques and equipment accessible to the whole health care staff.

Estimación de la estatura a partir de la longitud de pierna medida con cinta métrica / Estimation of height from leg lenght measured with tape measure

Se han desarrollado ecuaciones de predicción de la talla a partir de diversos segmentos corporales. Sin embargo, aquellas que parten de la altura de rodilla se encuentran limitada por la necesidad de requerir un instrumento (Antropómetro) de elevado costo. Por lo tanto el objetivo del presente estudio fue el de desarrollar una ecuación de predicción de talla, a partir de la longitud de pierna, utilizando una cinta métrica. La longitud de la pierna y la talla fue medida en 180 sujetos de 30-59 años de edad que asistieron al Ambulatorio Docente Asistencial del "Hospital Universitario de Caracas" durante el período abril-julio de 2002. A partir del coeficiente de correlación de Pearson, se calculó la correlación existente entre la talla con cada una de las variables estudiadas (longitud de pierna, sexo, edad) y de todas las variables entre sí para determinar el grado de correlación de cada medida con respecto a la talla. Se efectuaron Análisis de Regresión lineal para estimar la talla de cada uno de los géneros y los resultados fueron probados en una muestra independiente. Las ecuaciones generadas consiguieron una muy buena correlación con la talla real y su error estándar fue calculado. Por lo tanto, en aquellos sujetos en quienes no es posible la valoración de la talla real por métodos convencionales es posible utilizar ecuaciones de predicción de talla a partir de técnicas sencillas y equipos accesibles a todo el personal de salud (AU)

Equations to predict height from several body segments have been developed. However, those that use the knee height are limited by the need of an instrument with high cost (anthropometer). Thus, the aim of this study was to develop a prediction equation from the leg length by using a tape measure. Leg length and height was measured in 180 subjects, with ages 30-59 years that attended the Ambulatorio Docente Asistencial of the University Hospital of Caracas, from April to June of 2002. In order to determine the correlation degree of each measurement with height, the existent correlation between height and each one of the studied variables (leg length, sex, age) and between the variables to one each other was calculated by means of the Pearson's correlation coefficient. Linear regression analysis was done to estimate the height in each gender and the results were tested on an independent sample. The generated equations achieved a very good correlation with the real height and the standard error was calculated. Thus, in those subjects in whom assessment of the real height is not possible by conventional means, it is possible to use height prediction equations from simple techniques and equipment accessible to the whole health care staff (AU)